ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Most of the Kurdistan Region’s electricity is produced by the private sector as the government cannot afford fuel, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) electricity ministry said in a report on Wednesday.
The Kurdistan Region can generate 6,902 megawatts of power, but it only manages to generate between 3,400 and 3,500 megawatts "due to fuel shortages and high costs," said the ministry in the report.
According to the ministry, "84 percent of electricity generated in the Region comes from the private sector, while 16 percent is from the public sector."
In praising the role of privately owned generators in filling the gap, the ministry said the private sector does not suffer from bureaucracy issues - unlike the public sector, which often takes months to get approval for the repair of a unit.
Iraq and the Kurdistan Region face electricity shortages every summer. In Iraq, the regular blackouts have led to protests.
KRG provides only less than 12 hours of electricity during summer, heavily relying on privately owned generators with which one can only use basic electronics which require just a few amps.
The temperature of the Kurdistan Region is below 50 Celsius but sometimes it passes 50. Federal-controlled areas are even hotter.
KRG is suffering from a financial crisis. It has failed to pay its civil servants in full and on time for years. If the government provides fuel to the electricity ministry, the public electricity production may double.
The Kurdistan Region can generate 6,902 megawatts of power, but it only manages to generate between 3,400 and 3,500 megawatts "due to fuel shortages and high costs," said the ministry in the report.
According to the ministry, "84 percent of electricity generated in the Region comes from the private sector, while 16 percent is from the public sector."
In praising the role of privately owned generators in filling the gap, the ministry said the private sector does not suffer from bureaucracy issues - unlike the public sector, which often takes months to get approval for the repair of a unit.
Iraq and the Kurdistan Region face electricity shortages every summer. In Iraq, the regular blackouts have led to protests.
KRG provides only less than 12 hours of electricity during summer, heavily relying on privately owned generators with which one can only use basic electronics which require just a few amps.
The temperature of the Kurdistan Region is below 50 Celsius but sometimes it passes 50. Federal-controlled areas are even hotter.
KRG is suffering from a financial crisis. It has failed to pay its civil servants in full and on time for years. If the government provides fuel to the electricity ministry, the public electricity production may double.
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